Idk if it was the fact King was off the title or my expectations for an event titled " Joker War ", but this does not hold up to the amount of hype going in. All of Joker's planning and set-up all culminated in this extra size issue, and while playing with a really cool idea of the evolution of the relationship between Joker and Batman, is just muddled by all the fillers that happened prior and made extra-sized to catch everything and wrap it up.
All the stakes that were presented just felt like cardboard in this issue. It got wrapped up in like 2 seconds. This is the problem. You drag the conflict out to make it look so detrimental and intense, just for it to be a much more water-downed version of what it really is. I'll give it to Tynion, the way he conveys his idea through dialogue is amazing. His characterization of Batman, HQ, were great. HQ in particular, I really enjoyed how she was handled in this arc. But this issue was alot of letdowns.
Despite stellar writing, the confrontation between Joker and Batman was a letdown. Joker seemed to be a real interesting character going in, and he still has remnants of that, but his characterization in this arc just drops the ball. Punchline, for such a hyped of character, who seemed to have alot going for her, was just a forgettable sidekick. Clown Hunter, why the fuck is he even in this arc.
When the dust settled, this felt more like a transition arc instead of an arc that was supposed send Batman off with a bang. All the stakes that was held into this book, the identity of Batman, his name smeared by corruption, Batman's on who he is moving forward, the money, it all just fell apart. The art is amazing by Jimenez, the writing is great, but the story and its execution of the ideas its trying to display, it doesn't cut it.
The side stories with Punchline and Clown-Hunter were decent. But overall, as an event, this was nowhere near as big or important as it was held out to be. All it did was introduce future concepts and just set up things for the future instead of finishing things off, that's all this event did for me. Just because it isn't Tom King, doesn't mean its good. more
By: James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez
Released: Oct 7, 2020
“The Joker War” comes to a city-shattering conclusion as Batman battles The Joker in a brutal, no-holds-barred duel! This is a fight 80 years in the making, and its outcome won’t just change Batman’s life-it will change Gotham City for years to come! Plus, catch the first glimpse of the new villain known as Ghost-Maker! And after the senses...